Variable weight provision for pressing irons



April 1, 1952 M. A. SIMON VARIABLE WEIGHT PROVISION FOR PRESSING IRONS Filed May 5, 1948 INVENTOR MEYER A. SIMON ATTORNE Patented Apr. 1, 1952 VARIABLE WEIGHT PROVISION FOR PRESSING IRONS Meyer A. Simon, Clayton, Mo.

Application May 3, 1948, Serial No. 24,796

4 Claims. I

This invention relates to improvements in variable weight provisions for pressing irons, and more particularly to an improved arrangement and means for increasing or decreasing the useful pressing weight of hand irons, whereby to enable a ready variation in the weight and balance of the iron to meet the requirements of various users, and better to adapt the irons to the requirements of different fabrics.

Certain provisions have heretofore been made to the end of varying the pressing weight of irons for the purposes generally above noted. However as far as this applicant is aware, none of the provisions for this purpose have met with favor in the trade, and none thereof as far as is known, has found its way into commercial use. Due to present requirements in styling of appliances such as electric or steam irons, particularly those for domestic use, it is virtually necessary to enclose whatever agencies may be selected for attaining the present objects, whereby to avoid impairment of contouring, further in order to realize a thoroughly safe structure, and stil1 further in order positively to confine or restrain the added weight elements to a particular zone of the iron. It is accordingly a major and general objective of the present improvements torealize the several results noted.

A further object of the invention is to enable any user of the improved iron, in a few minutes and without special tools or skill, readily to increase or decrease the weight of the iron to meet the personal needs of the particular user, as well as to adapt the iron, by modification of its weight, to different fabrics.

Yet another object is realized in provisions for the purpose noted, which will require no expensive production tooling, need not modify the contouring or styling of the iron in any way, and which will enable an almost instant variation in balance of the iron, i. e., will permit the user quickly to adjust for a heavier fore portion or a relatively heavier heel or rear portion of the iron, as may be desired.

The foregoing and numerous other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of several slightly modified forms of the invention, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pressing iron which may be of the usual electrically energized domestic type, but showing in section certain chambered portions of the handle structure serving to contain, in selected number, a plurality of the weight units;

' Fig. 2 is an isometric View of a preferred form of weight unit for use in the weight receiving chambers or wells in the iron of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a View of a grip portion of the handle within the bores, Wells, or chambers.

of a pressing iron showing a somewhat modified form of weight-receiving chamber formed therein, and

Fig. 4 is a further modification, this view consisting of a fragmentary end portion of the shell of the iron in which is formed a weight-receiving well with a detachable closure for retaining weight units therein.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to Fig. 1, the pressing iron selected for present illustration of the improvements, includes a body or shell generally indicated at 6, below and to which is secured a sole plate SP. In Fig. 1 the forward end or toe portion of the iron is indicated at T and the rear or heel portion at H.

surmounting the body or shell S is a handle structure which may be formed of a relatively dense molded plastic material as is usual, the handle structure being generally indicated at [6.

This includes a conformed grip portion H, a

lower bridge portion l2, and a pair of generally vertical posts 13 at the front, and It at the rear, serving to connect the corresponding ends of the grip ii and lower bridge [2.

Formed in each of the posts l3l4, is a vertical well, one indicated at ii: in the post [3, and another indicated at It in the post [4. For convenience in forming, but without restriction, each or the wells or chambers I5 and I6 is preferably of circular section, and may be of a depth and diameter to meet the requirements of variation in weight of iron, within the predetermined or possible range. The upper portion of each of the wells l5 and i5 is preferably threaded for a distance below its outer end, the threads being indicated at I? in well.l5, and at I8 in well l6. For the purpose of closing the top of each well, and of definitely confining the weights therein, a threaded plug 20 (Fig. l) is provided at the upper end of each well. 7

Shown within each of the wells 15 and H5 is a plurality of weights, selected according to requirement for added weight over the normal mass of the iron, the weight units being indicated at 2 I By preference, each of these is provided with a concave or dished surface at its top as indicated at 22, and a correspondingly convex surface 23 which snugly interfi ts the weight therebelow, it being noted as a preference that the wells i5 and iii are each preferably formed with a concave bottom to receive snugly therein the lower-most or bottom weight unit 2!. It will now have appeared from this arrangement that the weights are, in effect, mutually interfitted in such manner that they tend to maintain their axial alignment It is preferred that the transverse sectional area of the weight units 2|, and the corresponding dimension of each bore, relatively closely conform, yet

3 with an easy working clearance therebetween. This relatively easy fit between weight units and the internal surfaces of the bores, facilitates removal of the weights merely by inversion of the iron, when the closure such as plug is removed from the well.

It will have appeared that the facilities as described enable not merely an addition of weight to the iron, by disposing one or more of the weights 2| in each of the wells 15 or it, but further enables a variation in balance of the iron. For example, should it be desired by a particular user, or for a particular pressing purpose, that the toe or nose of the iron be heavier than the rear or heel end, a greater number up to the maximum of the weights 2| may be disposed in the forward well l5, and either no weight or any selected number up to the maximum may be disposed in the rear well It. By selective variation in the number of weights in the respective wells, any desired ratio of fore-and-aft weight, hence any reasonable change in balance may be realized, of course within practical limits.

A somewhat modified arrangement serving the same purposes as set forth in connection with the description of Fig. 1, is shown by Fig. 3, wherein a handle structure, only certain portions of which are shown, is indicated at 39, and includes a forward post 3| and a rear post 32 which may be connected directly to the shell of the iron or to a lower bridge structure (not shown). The posts 31-32 are bridged at the top by a grip portion 33 of a generally horizontal disposition. Extending longitudinally over the whole or a part of the length of grip 33, is a recess, chamber or bore 34, all or a part of which may be threaded, but if threaded closure means such as be employed, threads 36 will coact with the threads of the plug at the rear end of the bore 34, and similarly, threads 31 at the forward or opposite end of bore 34, are engaged by a threaded plug 38. A suitable number of weights such as are disposed in the bore 34. If desired a partial partition 4| may be located intermediate the length of the bore 34 whereby better to confine the weights to the opposite end portions of the bore 34. It will be noted that whether or not the optional partition 41 be included, the recess or chamber consisting of bore 34 may be regarded as consisting of two aligned'horizontal wells or recesses each opening into one end of the grip portion of the handle. It will be noted that the weight of the iron may be regulated, as when utilizing the wells I5 and I6 heretofore described; it will also be noted that the balance of the iron may, in similar manner, be varied by locating a greater part of the added mass in the forepart of the chamber of bore 34 than in the rear portion, or vice versa.

A second modification consists in the location, preferably in one of the end extremities of the shell of the iron, of a provision for adding weight to ,the shell rather than to the handle structure. Such an arrangement is exemplified by Fig. 4, wherein there is disposed in either or both end regions of the shell, a weight chamber or well consisting in this case of a tube which preferably bridges the outer wall of the shell S, and the sole plate, it being noted that some electric irons currently available to the trade, have their heating elements so conformed, arranged and dimensioned, that an element such as tube 50 may be located: without, interference with the heating element or other parts internal of the iron. In this structure, the upper end of the tube 50 is threaded as at 5|, and a removable closure such as a threaded plug 52 employed at the top of this chamber or well serving to confine the weights 53 therein. If such a provision be made both at the front and rear ends of the shell or body, it will be obvious that by disposing the weights in selected numbers in the respective wells, not only the added weight may be varied, but the balance of the iron adjusted, in virtually the same way as heretofore described in Figs. 1 and 3.

The manner of utilization of the physical agencies added in embodiment of the present improvements is thought to have been apparent from the foregoing description but it may be briefly noted that if it be desired to augment the weight of the iron, assuming the wells or chambers to be empty, the detachable closures of thewells are removed, the requisite number of the weight elements inserted in the respective wells, and the closures replaced. Trial uses thus far have indicated that the better method of utilizing the improvements to enhance the balance of the iron or to adapt it to personal requirements, involves merely the trial-and-error method, since each individual iron will vary somewhat in its balance characteristics, and since the desire of each user varies according to personal requirements as well as in the requirements of the various fabrics with which the iron is to be used.

In the interests of completeness and further clarity, it should be particularly noted that the various wall formations, chambers or pockets of the respective modified embodiments shown in the drawing, may be arranged to lie wholly within the normal confines of either the handle or the shell, or both, the handle and shell being designated as the major elements of the pressing iron.

It will now have appeared that the arrangements described serve admirably and at a low cost, as a practical provision for adjusting, from time to time, the gross weight of a pressing iron so equipped, and as well permit the user to vary the balance of the iron. It will further have appeared that the added physical agencies by which this long needed result is attained, are entirely or substantially concealed in a manner to reduce the surface of the iron and to promote its cleanliness, and further in a manner not to impair the appearance of the iron in any way, at the same time assuring that the weight units in use are entirely captive and are fully guarded against casual displacements during movement of the iron incident to its normal function.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to only a few of the many possible embodiments, the detail of description is to be understood solely in an instructive rather than in any limiting sense, because'of the numerous variants possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pressing iron including a handle and shell as major elements thereof, means forming a pair of substantially vertical chambers located, respectively, near opposite ends and within the normal confines of one of the major elements of the iron, a plurality of weight elements disposable in selected numbers in the chambers, for varying the weight and balance of the iron and closure elements for the respective chambers adapted to retain the weight elements therein.

2. In a pressing iron, a shell, a handle portion secured to the shell, the handle portion including a pair of substantially vertical, spaced posts and a grip element bridging and supported by said posts, the posts each being chambered along rality of weight units disposable in selected numbers in said well, and closure means at the top of said well, serving to provide for access to the well, and when closed, to retain the weight units therein.

4. In a pressing iron, a metal shell including a sole plate forming a pressing surface, a handle secured to the shell, a tubular element located 20 2,413,020

substantially vertically in an end portion of the 6 shell, extending downwardly close to the sole plate, and opening outwardly of the upper portion of the shell, a plurality of weight units disposable in selected numbers in the tubular element so that the latter serves as a retaining chamber for the weight units, and a threaded closure at the upper end of the tubular element,

and serving to confine the weights therein.

MEYER A. SDVION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the vfile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,704 Wagner May 10, 1892 1,518,316 Ellingham Dec. 9, 1924 1,840,924 Tucker Jan. 12, 1932 Finlayson Mar. 25, 1947 2,433,556 Hume Dec. 30, 1947 

